BRITAIN is on fresh alert for violent gales, torrential rain, blizzards and inches of snow as 100km/h Hellstorm Hannah gears up to smash the nation this weekend.

The frenzied cyclonic low-pressure system will strike just days after a trail of destruction was left in the wake of Storm Gareth on Tuesday. Powerful winds and heavy rain will rage into the final part of March before there is any sign of the weather calming down, forecasters warn. Almost a month’s rain in a matter of hours will put swathes of Britain on flood alert this weekend as plunging temperatures bring up to eight inches of snow to parts.

Disruptive snowfall will hit Scotland and northern England through the weekend and into next week with deep drifts possible amid strong winds.

Temperatures will widely plunge close to freezing this weekend with lows of -3C (26.6F) bringing harsh frosts and icy roads in exposed regions.

Wind-chill charts show bitter northerly gales will make it feel as low as -12C (10.4F) across parts of the north by the end of the week.

Long-range forecasters warn a late winter blast could plunge the entire nation into freezing misery through the rest of the month and into April.

Exacta Weather forecaster James Madden said: “We could see another potent winter blast before the end of the month with significant snowfall in parts of the country.

“This is most likely across the northern half of Britain but it is not out of the question that we could see some wintry precipitation further south, even in London.

“There is still a risk of some significant snowfall before the end of the month and this could bring some very testing conditions including travel disruption and the risk of snowdrifts, especially with the strong winds.

“This is more likely in the north and there is a risk of accumulations which could last for several days mainly to high ground but also to lower levels at times.”

Huge chunks of Britain still reeling from Storm Gareth at the start of the week are on alert for further flooding through the coming days.

The Environment Agency has issued almost 50 alerts across northern, central and western Britain with a further three more serious flood warnings in place in the north.

A spokesman said: “Localised river and surface water flooding impacts are probable in parts of the Yorkshire Pennines on Thursday and also possible across other parts of northern England, Wales and the western Midlands on Thursday and again on Saturday due to heavy rainfall.

"River response in parts of the northern and western Midlands means localised river flooding is possible there on Friday and Sunday too.

"Land, roads and some properties could flood and there could be local travel disruption."

Sepa (The Scottish Environment Protection Agency) has eight flood alerts and 12 warnings in place through the coming days.

A spokesman said: “SEPA will continue to monitor the situation and further updates will appear here if the situation changes.

“Remain vigilant and remember, it is your responsibility to take actions which help protect yourself and your property.”

UK weather forecast: Temperatures are set to plummet this week (Image: NET WEATHER)

Low-pressure systems tearing in from the Atlantic will open the floodgates to Arctic air to flood across Britain.

Plunging temperatures will bring harsh overnight frosts and snow which could be heavy in parts towards the end of the month.

Scotland and northern England will see the heaviest downpours although flurries are possible across Wales and parts of the south.

AccuWeather meteorlogist Eric Leister said stormy weather over the coming days could lead to ‘significant disruption’ across Britain.

Heavy snowfall in parts of the country will be whipped up by strong winds leading to blizzard conditions in parts, he warned.

He said: “Another storm will race eastward on Friday bringing more strong winds and rainfall.

“This storm will focus its strongest winds from Ireland into England before spreading across the North Sea.

“Significant disruptions to travel will once again be possible through much of the southern half of the UK.

“While Scotland will miss out on the strongest winds, gusty winds combined with snow in the higher terrain will result in blizzard conditions at times on Friday.”

Further mayhem is likely at the weekend when yet another fierce storm takes a swipe at the UK, he warned.

He said: “There will be no respite from the unsettled weather this weekend as another storm arrives on Saturday with locally damaging winds and downpours.

“The brunt of this storm may set its sights on southern Ireland, Wales, England and coastal communities.

“The potential exists for another round of travel delays and power cuts as wind gusts can exceed 50 mph.

“Another soaking rainfall from Ireland into Wales and Northern England will set the stage for flooding problems and travel disruptions.”

Netweather’s Nick Finnis added: “Attention moves towards the next low developing out in the Atlantic to the southwest of Ireland which looks to deepen rapidly as it tracks northeast across Ireland Saturday morning, then northern England in the afternoon and evening.

“This could become the next named low, Hannah, not only because it looks to bring widespread gales and heavy rain on Saturday, but also some heavy snow on its northern flank across parts of Scotland – as the low bumps into cold air.

“So a stormy Saturday with potential for travel disruption.”

Weather charts reveal winds touching 100km/h as storms tear across the nation through the next few days.